This blog is about my experiences working in Malawi with EWB Canada. Please note, however, that it is NOT an official publication of my employer. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are wholly my own. Also please note that EWB Canada is a distinct and seperate organization from EWB USA. Thanks for reading. Comments are always appreciated.
Note: I have a new blog now. http://www.barefooteconomics.ca/

Just this week, an old friend asked for my help promoting a new project. Since it’s a really cool project, I figured…sure.

The project is The Ethical Ocean – an online market place for ethically traded goods. Seriously, after trying (unsuccessfully) for months to find a good pair of animal-product free dress shoes last fall, I’m pretty glad this exists. And whether it’s animal-rights, fair trade, or concern for the environment that motivates your shopping, this is the place to look.

The concept for my site is simple; North Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of how they spend their dollars. Companies like Apple and Cadbury have shifted to focus not only on profit, but also on ethical values like eco-friendly goods and fair trade goods; this speaks volumes of how consumers' mindsets have changed when evaluating products. Unfortunately, shopping according to your values still isn't easy. Businesses selling ethical products, though growing rapidly, are still badly fragmented and it is difficult to consistently purchase a wide range of products that align with what you believe it. That is where Ethical Ocean comes in. My site brings together quality vendors, selling products with ethical values that you care about. I believe strongly that the transformation that will take place in consumerism will be realized as a community action, and Ethical Ocean is built around a community foundation, where buyers, sellers and experts can discuss and interact. Please pay us a visit. I hope you'll find some products that interest you. If you know other people or companies that would also be interested in the site, please pass this message on WIDELY as this is our first day in business!